Coconut Oil

[JonnyPrimal]

I have just been reading through a few threads and have been compelled to join the forum just so that I can give Ted a pat on the back.

The more people we get using actual Science when discussing issues such as Alzheimer's (and Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer) the quicker the Western World will realise that Conventional Wisdom is not based on Science. Doctors are not taught more than a week's worth of Nutrition in 5 years of medical school - and most of that is still based on flawed pseudo-science from the 60s (ie. saturated fat is bad for you).

We evolved over millions of years, and we did it eating animals and plants. Not processed foods like pizza, pasta and that total hocus that is now called "bread". Dementia, Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes were all pretty much unheard of 100 or so years ago, yet now they are the "big 4" and have reached epedimic proportions across the Western World (depsite the advancements in medicine).

The 'healthy' low fat diet that is currently being pushed is (in my opinion) the main reason for the continued rise of these diseases.

The brain is made predominantly of fat and 20-25% of the body's total cholesterol is found in the brain. How can both of these things be so damaging to us? Cholesterol is what makes up the synapses within the brain. Is it too simplistic and logical to think that a low fat diet may just help in depriving the brain of it's most essential components?

A final thought. With both cholesterol and fat (especially saturated fat) being so bad for us (according to Conventional Wisdom) then why have the government or NHS not made moves to stop mothers breast feeding their babies? After all, mother's milk is made up of fat (50% saturated) and cholesterol? Hmm...

[stanleypj]

I have just been reading through a few threads and have been compelled to join the forum just so that I can give Ted a pat on the back.

The more people we get using actual Science when discussing issues such as Alzheimer's (and Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer) the quicker the Western World will realise that Conventional Wisdom is not based on Science. Doctors are not taught more than a week's worth of Nutrition in 5 years of medical school - and most of that is still based on flawed pseudo-science from the 60s (ie. saturated fat is bad for you).

We evolved over millions of years, and we did it eating animals and plants. Not processed foods like pizza, pasta and that total hocus that is now called "bread". Dementia, Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes were all pretty much unheard of 100 or so years ago, yet now they are the "big 4" and have reached epedimic proportions across the Western World (depsite the advancements in medicine).

The 'healthy' low fat diet that is currently being pushed is (in my opinion) the main reason for the continued rise of these diseases.

The brain is made predominantly of fat and 20-25% of the body's total cholesterol is found in the brain. How can both of these things be so damaging to us? Cholesterol is what makes up the synapses within the brain. Is it too simplistic and logical to think that a low fat diet may just help in depriving the brain of it's most essential components?

A final thought. With both cholesterol and fat (especially saturated fat) being so bad for us (according to Conventional Wisdom) then why have the government or NHS not made moves to stop mothers breast feeding their babies? After all, mother's milk is made up of fat (50% saturated) and cholesterol? Hmm...

You are making interesting points but your case is not helped by the unsupportable claim highlighted in bold above.

[stanleypj]

And far from the brain being made predominantly of fat, I think you'll find it's about 77% water.

[KINGFISHER5]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any useful feedback regarding coconut oil? We have read quite a lot of stuff on the internet claiming its benefits. Wondered if anyone has any beneficial stories to share. Thanks

[Kiddo]

I have tried it on my mother. For a while it seemed to be helping as she was putting her clothes on in the right order but it didn't seem to be a major improvement but it was good to see. I'm still not sure if this was due to the oil.

It's good stuff though if a bit expensive. I mixed it in with her porridge but not too much as with it being an oil it can float and not look very appetising.

[KINGFISHER5]

I have tried it on my mother. For a while it seemed to be helping as she was putting her clothes on in the right order but it didn't seem to be a major improvement but it was good to see. I'm still not sure if this was due to the oil.

It's good stuff though if a bit expensive. I mixed it in with her porridge but not too much as with it being an oil it can float and not look very appetising.

Thanks Kiddo, any feedback is great, so thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Canadian Joanne]

I would like to point out that the woman who really started the interest in using coconut oil as she claims it has "cured" her husband (in 2008), is still using the coconut oil and selling her book about it. Her husband still has Alzheimer's so I'm not quite sure what got cured.

She said she did intensive internet research but that is absolutely no substitute for peer-reviewed scientific research.

I understand how we want to find something, anything, to alleviate the hell we and our loved ones are going through. But I find it distressing when some of the alternatives recommend stopping medications etc. Taking a teaspoon of coconut oil a day as an adjunct to conventional treatment is fine. Stopping all regular treatment to focus only on unproven treatments is very ill-advised in my opinion.

Would anyone consider stopping insulin for a diabetic?

[shine and dine]

I have tried it on my mother. For a while it seemed to be helping as she was putting her clothes on in the right order but it didn't seem to be a major improvement but it was good to see. I'm still not sure if this was due to the oil.

It's good stuff though if a bit expensive. I mixed it in with her porridge but not too much as with it being an oil it can float and not look very appetising.

As I already use coconut milk (bought at many local supermarkets cheaply) instead of milk (as I have more bronchitis and phlegm with milk products) on my cereal and müsli, I decided to try using it on my mother's cereals too. She is +90 and suffers from dementia, tendency Alzheimers. I definitely saw improvements in her moods and memory. I will definitely keep using it. I also add coconut milk to curries which I make occasionally.